Electric switch



June 1 1926, 1,587,139

w. l... BETTS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed August 5, 1924 III/ Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED SATES eanna aren't rrics.

\VALJFER L. BEETS, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN' ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed August 5, 1924.. Serial No. 730,157.

This invention relates to radio. control switches, for use in apartment houses, hotels and the like, for associating the receiving apparatus with the aerial and ground wires and for varying the volume of current received therefrom for actuating the receiver set in .order to operate a loud speaker at different degrees of loudness, as high, medium or low, or to reduce the volume suiiiciently to operate an ordinary head set when it is not desired or convenient to have the loud speaker operating.

The invention consists of a switch in unit form designed to go into standard outlet boxes and arranged to take standard switch flush plates such as are used in electric light push button switches, whereby these units may be readily installed in the walls of the apartment or hotel rooms and be flush with the walls and out of the way.

Other features of invention and advantages will appear from the following description and the claim appended thereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front view of theunitary switching device with the supporting plates partially cut away. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a'diagrammatic view of the circuit used in said device. Fig. l is a side assembly view of the switching structure modified showing the flush plate and outlet box in sections. Fig. 5 is a back view thereof and Fig. 6 is a diagram matic view of the circuit used in connection with the modified switching device shown in Fig. l.

The switching device shown in Fig. 1 consists of a supporting insulating plate 11 which is mounted and held securely in an outlet box 9 of a standard type adapted to hold the flush plate 10 in adjusted positions, by means of a number of screws 12. On the plate 11 is mounted a switching device which generally consists of an insulating plate 13 held in spaced relation with reference to the plate 11 by means of posts 14, 15 and 16. In plate 13 there is mounted a sleeve or bearing 17 in which the shaft 18 rotates. This shaft extends from each side of the sleeve 17 and on its ends are secured a knob 19 and a wiper 20 which is adapted to contact with a plurality of arcuately disposed contact points 21, 22, 23 and 24 embedded in the plate 13. Each of these contacts extends a small distance on the opposite side of the plate 13 for attaching their respectively assoclated wire terminals 25, 26, and 27 shown in the diagrammatical View of Fig. 3.

It is to be noted that the contact point 23 does not form a part of the sound reproducer operating circuit but is provided only for holding the wiper 20 in neutral position.

The resistances 28 and 29 shown in Fig. 3 are wound on a spool 30 which is held on the plate 13 by any suitable means.

A spring 31 secured on the plate 13 contacts with the inwardly extending end portion of the shaft 18 which cooperates with the contacts 21, 22 and 24 for completing the telephone circuit in the order indicated by the symbols H, M, L, OFF, shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and which indicate the condition of the circuit for high, medium, low and no tone respectively.

Brackets 32 and 38 are secured to the plate 11 and are each provided with screws 3a and for securing the terminals of each incom- ,ing wire (not shown) to the switch. On the plate 11 is mounted a spring 37 and associated sleeve 36 which may be of any well known type and in which the plug bf the head set cord or loud speaker may be inserted for connection.

The modified switch unit shown in Fig. 4 generally consists of a mounting plate 1]. in which the sleeves'35 and 36 are secured and to which the telephone head set or a loud speaker may be connected through the lnsertion of their respectively associated plugs 89 and 40 shown in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 6. The conducting strip $8 is provided for electrically connecting the sleeves 35 and 36 and for reenforcing the plate 11.

A resistance ll whi.=.:li may be of any well known type is provided in the operating circuit and is adapted for reducing the current to a volume suitable for reception in a telephone head set, the current being normally strong enough to operate loud speaker. This resistance is disposed between the resilient brackets 44 and secured on the plate 11 which are provided with center ing holes in which the metallic pointed end portions 46 and 47 of the resistance engage as shown in Fig. 4. The screws and 61 on strip 48 and spring 49 are provided for attaching the terminals of the incoming wires 50 and 51 respectively. The wire 52 has one end attached to the fastening portion of spring 49 and the other end to the resilient bracket 4% in contact with the resistance t1 which in turn contacts with supporting bracket in contact with the spring in t Frog. 1

its on he operation of the device shown in 2111i referring more particularly to erting circuit shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 the wiper is shown resting on contact 21. In this position a circuit is closed through the side ot' the incoming line whose te minal is connected to contact 21, the wiper .50 and the returning side 38 of the incoming line including resistance Therefore, no current flows through the sound reproducer circuit and this circuit condition is indicated by the word Off printed on the face of the dial 10 in registry with the arrow 39 carried by the knob 19. When wiper 20 is moved on contact 22 a circuit tor the receiver is closed through the side of the incoming line, spring 37 the receiver loop and the returning side 38 ot the incoming line through resistance 28. A very small amount o1 current flows through this circuit due to the resistance 29 bridged across the lines and 38. The energy of the current flowing in the line circuit is suiiicient for operating an ordinary telephone receiver or a receiver oi the loud speaker sort at a 10W tone and this circuit condition is indicated by the symbol L disposed in registry with the arrow 39. When wiper 20 is moved in position at the points indicated by the symbol M a circuit is closed to the receiver through the side 38 of the line, resistance 28, sleeve 36, receiver loop, spring 37 and the returning side 25 of the line. The current flowing through the resis ance 28, however, is suiiicient to operate a loud speaker at a medium tone and this circuit condition is indicated by the symbol loop, sleeve 36, wiper 20, contact E i-i, v tor 27 to the returning side 38 of the ii The wiper 20 in position on em shunts the resistance 28 from the line circuit, and the current flowing in the operating circuit operates the loud speaker at a very high tone. The condition of this circuit in, indicated by the symbol H in registry with the arrow 39.

In the circuit shown in Fig. 5 when a receiver of the loud speaker sort is (top.- nccted to siccve a circuit is complete: through the side 51 of the incoming line, loud speaker loop, spring 49, the strip lk-J and the returning side 54) oi the line. When the plug ot the telephone head set is inserted in sleeve 36 a circuit, is closed through the side 51 ot the line, conductor 62, the telephone loop the spring 53, resistance 4-1 and the returning side 50 01' the incoming line. The resistance ll is made of such a value that the head operates in a manner very similar to an ordinary telephone receiver.

Vhat is claimed is:

In combination, an outlet box, a mounting plate fitting into said box, a resistance device carried on the bacl: oi the niountin' plate having taps leading to contact points on said mounting plate, a wiper carried by said mounting plate for engaging said contact points, a flush plate, means for securing said mounting plate and liush plate to said box, and a jack carried by said mounting plate and extending through the flush plate.

WALTER L. BETTE. 

